Zimbabwean aviation mogul Patson Moyo buys Harare property for $30 million

Transvaal Africa (Private) Limited, a Zimbabwean property and aviation group co-founded by aviation mogul Patson Moyo, has bought PPC Zimbabwe’s 418-hectare Arlington Estate in Harare for $30 million. The deal, completed through PPC’s 88 percent-owned subsidiary PPC Zimbabwe (PPCZ), is one of the largest private land sales in the country in recent years.

PPC had owned the land since 1990, but only regained its title deeds in December 2024 after the government reversed a 2010 compulsory acquisition. After finding no viable limestone reserves on the site, the cement maker decided to sell, saying the land no longer fit its core business. As part of the agreement, PPCZ will continue to supply cement for any future projects on the estate.

Cargo hub development plan

Transvaal Africa plans to transform Arlington Estate, located close to Harare’s international airport, into a major cargo and logistics center, dubbed the “Cargo Village.” The development will feature cold storage for agro-processing, warehousing, logistics facilities, fuel services, and supporting residential and commercial projects. The group says the project will position Zimbabwe more firmly in regional trade networks while upgrading parts of its transport system.

The company is also moving into the airline industry. After securing an air services permit in January 2025, Transvaal Africa expects to launch passenger and cargo flights in the last quarter of the year using three leased Boeing aircraft. Initial routes will link Harare with Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam, with later plans for long-haul flights to Dubai, London, Lagos, and Shanghai.

Although the $30 million sale was finalized in August 2025, a High Court case filed by Nyikavanhu Housing Cooperative is still pending. The cooperative claims it received a valid allocation of the land in 2006 and alleges that the 2024 offer letter and March 2025 deed were fraudulent. PPC Zimbabwe proceeded with the transaction despite the ongoing litigation.

New chapter for Transvaal Africa

Founded in 2022 by Patson Moyo and N. Dube, Transvaal Africa started as a small aviation venture before expanding into property and logistics. Moyo, a former pilot and consultant, now oversees the company’s twin priorities: building the 418-hectare cargo hub and launching an airline.

The Arlington purchase gives Transvaal Africa both a strategic property and a foundation for its logistics ambitions. Its planned airline adds another layer to the business, with the potential to connect Zimbabwe more directly to regional and global markets. The company’s next challenge will be securing financing and settling the land dispute that still hangs over the estate.